Amelia’s Blog

“Slippin’ away, what can I say,
Won’t you stay inside me month of May
And hold on to me golden day,
Slippin’ away.

Sunshine on my wall to keep my mind
On the things I’m sayin’
Footsteps in the hall
To tell me I’ve been this way before.” James Taylor

“The act of perception is always open-ended and unfinished.”David Abram

Mars, the war god in astrology is strong in the sky this week. There is a story astrologers tell sometimes about this feisty figure; that Mars in his exuberance and enthusiasm for engaging in conflict suited up and was all ready to go when he realized he didn’t know where battle was. There is a bit of that type of energy about this week as Mars in Virgo aspects a number of planets.

Mars is now conjunct the Sun and Mercury  and Venus in Virgo, which can contribute to a more restless and impatient time in which self assertion and aggression can come come to the forefront. It’s best this week to tackle projects that require energy and discernment and keep moderation in mind.

All of these planets are aspecting the Jupiter/Neptune square which will be exact for the third and final time this month. This duo is associated with dreams and visions that create a sense of exuberance but do not have enough of a stable foundation in reality to count on. Thus there can be a sense of heightened idealism which can result in considerable disappointment. It can be difficult to see the reality of things with this aspect in full force and things may fall apart more easily. Again, holding to the path of moderation and ensuring a solid foundation for plans and initiatives bodes well under this influence.

This stellium of planets in Virgo will be making a favorable alignment to Saturn which can provide a very stable, no -nonsense  anchor at times like these.

The asteroid Pallas Athene recently entered the sign of Scorpio. This  goddess was always depicted with an owl on her shoulder. Owls can see in the darkness and she carried the owl as a reminder to look more deeply into what was not obvious in the light of day,  to look for  what she was not seeing.

Pallas brought the knowledge of diplomacy and mediation to the gods and goddesses. She was known for her expertise in strategy. When conflict arose she would use her many skills to bring about a peaceful resolution. But when these tools were implemented to no positive end, she was invincible in battle.

Pallas in Scorpio speaks of the kind of perception that goes to the core of situations and is able to grasp the essential meaning. It is like someone in the intelligence service who gathers all the available information so that action may be taken eventually in an accurate and  comprehensive way. It is like the therapist or psychic that can get right to the root of the problem.

It is wise now to take that approach rather than acting out of irritability or impulsiveness. Best to look for what you might not be seeing in situations.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A broken bottle and spilled perfume.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“Thinking is the talking of soul with itself. All thoughts begin in wonder.” Plato

“New ways of thinking about familiar things can release new energies and make all manner of things possible.” Charles Handy

The Moon waxes new Friday T 6 degrees of Virgo at 6:37 AM EDT. The Moon will align with  a number of planets in Virgo which are making a favorable and powerful alignment with Uranus, the planet of innovation and unexpected events. Venus and Mars, the planets of attraction are together at this time as well as Venus and Juno. This indicates an ease in  moving along on your desired life path as well as with your commitments – both personal and professional. There is  help from the universe (perhaps in unexpected ways) given one caveat; you must be specific and willing to follow through. What bodes well for success under this alignment is more like rolling out a detailed plan or design than casting your fate to the winds.

Do focus on the details and be clear about your intentions. Then the wind is at your back.

It’s best to avoid overthinking and get active if you are feeling nervous.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is, “Two guardian angels bringing protection.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hil

“One must, in writing poetry, be dealing always with living thought, the living mind-stuff of the universe.” Kathleen Raine

“To think is to create.” Alan Cohen

This week as we head into Friday’s New Moon in Virgo , is an excellent time to recalibrate  and to let new perceptions surface.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,””Two heads looking out and beyond the shadows.”

“To serve others is to give of oneself with no personal gain or reward. The energy of service is the only remedy for the problems of darkness and barriers to our evolution. Service is the only energy that can generate enough continued light and fire to combat the darkness.” Mary E. Carreiro

“Everything we do counts. There is no such thing as a small act of service or goodness.” Carolyn Myss

Starting this week and into next,  we have quite a lineup of planets in Virgo – Mars is now in Virgo and will be joined by the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, and Venus as well as the asteroid of commitment, Juno.  They will be joining one of the four fixed stars of Persia, Regulus.  The fixed stars do not change signs often and it is a very significant astrological event when they do.

Regulus is the sign of royalty and often found in the charts of kings. It is also associated with leaders or powerful public figures that reach great heights but then bring about their own downfall through the misuse of power.

Regulus left the sign of Leo in 2012. Entering the sign of Virgo at that time  was signalling in a sense,  the birth of a new era – a  major shift in the evolutionary direction of  the planet over time.  In the sign of  Leo, it spoke of  leadership  or governing with  a sense of birthright or entitlement. Now in Virgo, a sign less associated with personal pride and individuality and more focused on healing, oneness with nature and service, it symbolizes the rebirth of the Feminine (in men and women) which has been taking place on the planet – despite considerable push back from the old guard.

It’s wise at this time to look to the house or houses in your chart which are being activated by the placements in Virgo. It is good to focus on these areas of life  and to bring discernment and discrimination to any decisions that need to be  made in these realms.

In general it is a good time to  take action on any plans or intentions related to improving your health. It’s wise to look at your daily routine and  assess if any  adjustments to your schedule  are needed so that it better  supports and builds your strength and vitality.  There may be a need for more down time, for example, or a better way to organize your life to minimize stress.

It’s a good time to tackle projects which involve organization, discrimination and discernment.

And it’s a good time to think about service. There seems to be some confusion about what service actually means. I like this quote from Marion Wright Edelman who wrote,”Service is the rent we pay to be living. It is the very purpose of life and not something you do in your spare time.”

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”Two guardian angels bringing protection.”

“We want our lives to catch fire and burn blue, not smolder.” Gregg Levoy

“Transformation comes from looking deeply within, to a state that exists before fear and isolation arise, the state in which we are inviolably whole.” Sharon Satzberg

There were two planetary stations over the weekend – Uranus stationed retrograde and Jupiter stationed direct. Jupiter will start to move forward now ushering in a very good time to envision how you would like to expand your life. It’s a good time for exploring new ideas, for learning, teaching and traveling in order to expand your horizons.  Jupiter stationed at 14 degrees of Sagittarius and will remain in this sign until early December when it will enter the sign of Capricorn.

The Sun moves up to a conjunction to Venus t this week and  at that time will form a challenging aspect to Pluto, Saturn and the South Node.  This influence can bring up  issues having to do with a lack of love, a lack of self love and concerns about abundance. With Pluto and Saturn involved these issues can have an ancestral aspect to them – issues that family members have struggled with throughout the generations. It’s an opportunity for a deeper level of understanding about them, should they arise, as well as an opportunity to let go of old patterns that may be holding you back.

This planetary configuration is also about the use of power -personally, with others and in the world in general. This Full Moon speaks of the re-emergence of the Feminine (in both men and women) and the effort to move the world in a more evolved. holistic direction. And the push back rising up in opposition.

The Moon waxes full on Thursday at 22 degrees of Aquarius at 8:29 AM EDT. The influence of Vesta is strong at this time, squaring the Sun, Venus,and the Moon.

Vesta is named for the Vestals or Vestal Virgins of ancient Rome. The Romans worshiped Vesta as the keeper of home and hearth as well as  the keeper of the sacred flame- the fire that would not go out. The  name Vesta  is derived from ancient Sanskrit and means “shining.”

The Vestals were also the keepers of occult teachings known only to them. They were present at every important government function in ancient Rome. They were regarded  as important keepers of ethics and wisdom, without whom Rome would fall.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A white dove flying straight and fearlessly over troubled waters.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“Wrong was easy; gravity helped it.
Right is difficult and long.
In choosing what is difficult
we are free, the mind too
making its little flight
out from the shadow into the clear
in time between work and sleep.” Wendell Berry

“The healing
that is ours and nature’s will come
if we are willing, if we are patient,
if we know the way, if we will do the work.” Wendell Berry

This is a good week to keep balance and equilibrium in mind. Both Venus and  Sun are  moving up to a fiery trine to Jupiter. This indicates an increase in optimism and expansion. But at the same time both Venus and the Sun will be making a challenging aspect to Saturn indicating a need for adjustment. It’s wise to assume that any endeavors initiated this week will be tested and to make sure that any plans have solid foundations and are well thought out before proceeding. Keeping a healthy balance between optimism and pragmatism bodes well.

It’s wise to raise awareness about any information which surfaces this week  related to your life path as the Sun aspects the North Node of fate and destiny. There can be significant insights now about direction and how to proceed.

Both Jupiter and Uranus are  strong influence throughout the week as they prepare to station on Saturday the 11th – Jupiter stationing direct and Uranus stationing retrograde. The Jupiter station can expand vision and optimism and projects that have been stuck can start to move forward with this influence.

Uranus in Taurus is associated with the re-emergence of the Feminine (in both men and women) on the planet and is bringing along a shake up of the old order including values and institutions rooted in patriarchal thinking. It’s a good time to release outdated thoughts and feelings that are holding you back.

One of the Sabian symbols for this week is, A bridge being built across a high narrow gorge.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“Everything we do counts. There is no such thing as a small act of kindness or goodness.” Caroline Myss

“The universe is evolving towards an ever greater destiny and we are the means of this global transformation.” Pir Vialyat Khan

Mercury is slowing down now to end the retrograde period on Wednesday near midnight EDT. Mercury stations are associated with a culmination of information, so it’s wise for a few days before or a few days after the station to take note of any information like this that surfaces. Mercury will station at 23 Cancer – opposing Pluto. Previously hidden information about the past may surface due to this influence.

Venus, the planet of love and personal values, is now in the fiery sign of Leo. Mars is also in the sign of Leo and this indicates that the powers of action (Mars) and the powers of attraction (Venus) are combining forces. This bodes well attracting what you want into your life. There are influences throughout the week that also support  imagination and intuition and manifesting what you want in your life. As they say,”The goddess is alive and magic is afoot.”

It is likely to be a  week of unexpected twists and turns of events as the Sun , Venus and the Moon on the New Moon, all square the planet of the unexpected, Uranus.  It bodes well to make an extra effort to stay grounded as this alignment  is also correlated with increased tension, nervousness and impulsive behavior.

Mars will make a challenging aspect to Neptune this week – indicating a good time for creative and spiritual work, but a time when it’s wise to have strong personal boundaries in place and to exercise extra discernment as this duo can lead to confusion and sometimes, disillusioning experiences.

The New Moon is Wednesday at 11:12 PM at 8 degrees of Leo. Venus, the planet of love and values is conjunct the New Moon and Mars.  Juno, the asteroid of marriage and commitment is nearby in the sign of Leo. This alignment ushers in a time that is  about relationships, romance and partnerships of all kinds. It’s a very good time to be working on issues of self esteem, self love and love for others.

One of the Sabian symbols for the New Moon is,”Glass blowers shape beautiful forms with their controlled breathing.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“We cause pain for others by our apathetic response to life.” Barbara Hand Clow

“Love measures our stature; the more we love, the bigger we are. There is no smaller package in the world than that of a man all wrapped up in himself.” William Sloane Coffin

There is a powerful Lunar Eclipse this Tuesday at 24 degrees of Capricorn at 5:38 PM EDT. Two of the strong players in the sky at this time are Pluto – the Lord of the Underworld and Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, whose daughter was kidnapped by Pluto. This ancient myth is about grief and loss, as Ceres searched to  find and reunite with her daughter.

It is also about the cycles of death and rebirth.

Ceres is stationary in the sky at the time of the eclipse – a powerful placement.  Ceres governs the ways in which we nurture and care for ourselves and others.

On a personal level Ceres governs issues of self esteem and self worth as well as the relationships we have with our parents and children. It governs how we handle issues of grief and loss and how we care for others at these times. Ceres governs the  sustaining and nourishing of life in all its forms

Figuring also prominently into the  Eclipse equation are the Moon and Venus – both in strong aspect to Pluto, Saturn and the South Node. These configurations speak about the scarcity of love and  resources and the kind of pain that it causes.

It is possible that under these influences, the pain of the past may arise for another level of processing. If so, it bodes well to process it in a way which leads to increased wisdom and personal evolution.

Pluto is teamed up with Saturn at this time indicating that old foundations are crumbling – both personally and in the world. Venus is conjunct the North Node at this time – a good reminder of the power inspiration and love can bring to any situation.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”In a hospital a children’s ward is filled with toys.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“Bring light to your weavings, or don’t sit at the loom.” Lynn Andrews

“Mastering yourself is true power.” Tao Te Ching

This is a testy week as the Sun transits in opposition to the Saturn/Pluto/South Node conjunction. Power struggles and power plays can more easily become part of the picture now.

Mercury and Mars have been traveling together can lead to increased edginess and irritability. And Mars and Mercury are forming a fractious square with Uranus indicating nerves may be frayed and actions may be more impulsive.

It is a very good time to slow down and calm down as misunderstandings can occur more easily. It’s also a good time to keep busy and to  take care of projects in need or finishing or projects you haven’t had the time to get around to.

This Mercury retrograde period -through the end of July is a good time for observing how you feel about your interactions with the outer world. It’s also a good time to look at how your  ideas, thoughts and attitudes affect your feelings.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,” The wonder of the constellations of stars in the night sky.”